Police ID Fitchburg couple rescued from Nashua

Two people pulled from a car in the Nashua River Sunday morning both had pulses after being taken to the hospital, according to a fire official. They had been unresponsive earlier.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian F. Belliveau said he was cautiously optimistic the two would recover. The vehicle was noticed by an off-duty police officer.

Fitchburg fire officials Sunday night identified the driver as Marie Boudreau, 80, and said her husband, Rene Boudreau, 85, was the passenger. The couple is from Fitchburg.

Officials this morning said both people were in critical condition.

The rescue occurred about 8:45 a.m., near Barb's Riverside Café, 131 Westminster St., and the British American Club, at Simonds Road and Westminster Street.

Police believe Mrs. Boudreau accidentally drove the car in reverse from a parking lot into the river.

A group of people rushed to the vehicle, a Buick LaCrosse that was in about three feet of water, and managed to get it upright, according to Deputy Chief Belliveau. Extrication tools were used to free the couple from the car.

“It took a very, very strong effort between the police officers, the firefighters and I believe some civilians at the scene to make this happen the way it did,” Deputy Chief Belliveau said.

He praised EMS workers for their response.

He said the Boudreaus were unresponsive and had no pulses when rescuers removed them from the vehicle. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed en route to UMass Memorial — HealthAlliance Leominster Campus, and the couple's pulses had returned after their arrival at the hospital, he said.

Fire officials said Sunday night Mrs. Boudreau was in Leominster Hospital, while Mr. Boudreau was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester.

Police Sgt. Mark Jackson said the initial investigation indicates the car was in a parking lot behind the restaurant when Mrs. Boudreau inadvertently accelerated while in reverse, sending the vehicle down a short embankment and into the river.